On November 17th, communities across Massachusetts came together to observe the 2024 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. This annual day of remembrance honors those who have lost their lives in roadway crashes, including pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and others. Events statewide united participants in mourning, reflection, and a call to action to create safer streets for all.

Boston: Ride For Your Life

Photo by: Safe Roads Alliance

Boston's Ride For Your Life, led by Alexa Gomberg and co-organized with local advocacy organizations, drew an impressive 300 riders. Participants gathered on the steps of Boston Common for powerful remarks. Attendees included:

• State elected officials: Senator Will Brownsberger, State Senator Pat Jehlen, Representative Owens, and Representative Cruz 
• Cambridge Councilor Patty Nolan, who joined on the ride from Cambridge to Boston
• Emily Stein, Alexa Gomberg, and Eric Olson and his wife Mary Beth Ellis, shared moving personal stories about their loved ones who were killed by drivers

MassBike board members George Lester and Hailey Broderick were in attendance, and the event attracted significant media coverage, capturing the urgency of the issue through powerful photos.

• ‘Ride for Your Life': Hundreds of cyclists rally for road safety in Mass. - NBC Boston

• Cyclists rally for road safety in Massachusetts and remember those lost at Ride for Your Life event - CBS Boston 

• 'It doesn't have to be this way': Cyclists demand end to fatal crashes at State House rally” - Boston Globe

• Street safety advocate leads local charge on 'Ride For Your Life' event - Andover Townsman

Worcester: A Commitment to Vision Zero

In Worcester, 25 residents and officials gathered outside the historic Worcester Auditorium. Among the speakers were:

• Mayor Joseph Petty, State Senator Robyn Kennedy, and District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj, reiterated the city’s commitment to implementing a city-wide 25 mph speed limit as part of the Vision Zero initiative.
• Steve Rolle, the City’s Transportation and Mobility Commissioner, along with advocates Karin Valentine Goins, Alex Salcedo, and Robert Bilotta, emphasized the need for safer streets for vulnerable road users.
  The event concluded with a poignant gesture: organizers laid flowers at sites of traffic fatalities throughout the city.

Worcester remembers lives lost to pedestrian crashes - Spectrum News 1

Springfield: Honoring Victims with Action

In Springfield, WalkBike Springfield and the Holyoke Bike Ped Committee hosted their annual event for Hampden County where local officials, including Springfield City Council president Michael Fenton, Holyoke City Councilor Kocayne Givner, and State Senator Jake Olivieri, gathered with community members to reflect on roadway tragedies. This year’s event featured a sign of progress in the city: a raised crosswalk in construction on State Street, a long-awaited improvement near the library where three people have been killed.

• Family members of State Street crash victims carried photos across the new crosswalk, symbolizing the human toll of dangerous roads.
• The event also included a touching visual memorial: ribbons tied to shoes, one for every fatal crash victim in Hampden County this year.

“Victims of deadly traffic accidents remembered at Springfield event” - Western Mass News

"Advocates cautiously optimistic about pedestrian cycling safety gains in WMass" - MassLive

Brockton: Marching for Safer Streets

Photo by: Brockton Bikes

Brockton Bikes organized a heartfelt march for safe streets. Participants walked from City Hall to key locations marked by recent tragedies, including:

• The corner of Newbury Street & Ellsworth Street, where a 13-year-old was the victim of a hit-and-run last week.

• The corner of Nye Avenue & Pleasant Street, where two men lost their lives in separate incidents in 2022.

The march drew support from attendees and passersby, with many honking or cheering to show solidarity. Events like this emphasize the community's demand for safer roads and justice for those affected by traffic violence.

"Marchers say Brockton deserves safe streets" - The Enterprise

Pittsfield: A Civil Rights Approach to Road Safety

The Pittsfield Community Design Center on North Street hosted a roundtable on road safety. MassBike’s Galen Mook proposed reframing traffic-calming measures as a civil rights issue, emphasizing the fundamental right to safe mobility.

• A vigil honored the 13 Berkshire County residents who lost their lives this year in traffic crashes.
• Nicholas Russo, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Senior Transportation Planner, read the names of the victims, including Michael DeMarsico, who tragically passed away just days before the event.

“Traffic calming was top of mind at a World Day of Remembrance event honoring victims of roadway crashes” - Berkshire Eagle

National Recognition

Photos and quotes from Massachusetts events were featured in the National Vision Zero Network’s WDoR recap, underscoring the state’s leadership in advocating for safer streets. 

Moving Forward

Massachusetts’ 2024 World Day of Remembrance events served as a powerful reminder of the lives lost to traffic crashes and the urgent need for action. From Boston to the Berkshires, participants reaffirmed their commitment to safer, more equitable streets. Together, we can honor the memories of those we have lost by collectively advocating for safer roadways.

Take Action

If you attended or were inspired by this year’s events, we encourage you to continue supporting Vision Zero efforts in your community. Right now, you can take action by contacting your local elected officials to urge them to support initiatives to make our roadways safer. Every step toward safer streets makes a difference.

Contact your State Elected Officials

Continue the momentum we built together during World Day of Remembrance. Email your representatives and senators to share your personal stories about why you support safer roadways and let them know that you support automated enforcement and expanding large vehicle and truck safety regulations. 

If you’re unsure who your legislators are, you can find them here: malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

Example email:

Dear [Rep or Senator],

I recently participated in a World Day of Remembrance event and was moved by the powerful stories people shared about losing loved ones to traffic violence. I’m writing to ask you to support two specific legislative asks to make our roads safer — automated traffic enforcement and truck safety regulations. 

Insert why safer roadways are important to you using a personal story. Example: I take my five-year-old to school by cargo bike. He loves riding and is excited to one day use his own bike to ride to school with his friends. I want him to be able to do that safely, but our route currently has busy traffic which prohibits many students from biking or walking. I hope that legislation can be passed to our roadways safer for him and all road users.

In this next legislative session, please support automated enforcement and the expansion of large vehicle and truck safety regulations. 

Sincerely, 

Name

Town, MA